Everybody loves a good ghost story and tonight Songbirds (Radio 4, FM 97.6) begins a four-part drama called Jill Came Tumbling After. The story revolves around a haunted house on Peng Chau.
The drama begins with the Lee family about to move from their small flat in Kowloon to a large house on Peng Chau. On the day they are moving, a No 1 typhoon signal is hoisted. Despite the approaching storm, Mr Lee decides to go ahead with the move.
On the ferry to Peng Chau, the typhoon worsens and on landing the removal men announce that they cannot deliver the goods that day. There is a lull in the storm and Mr Lee decides to walk with his family up the hill to their new house. But, by the time they get to the top of the hill, the rain has started again and the storm is getting much worse. Finally they reach the door of their new home but Mr Lee cannot find the keys. He is desperate. But then something very strange happens - eight-year-old Bonnie suddenly produces the keys. But who gave them to her? Bonnie has a very strange story to tell.
Below is the opening part of tonight's Songbirds drama for you to read either before or while listening to the programme.
Mother: Do you think we should tell the removal men not to come?
Father: No, it will be okay.
Mother: But what if it suddenly gets worse ... and we're on the ferry to Peng Chau!